Emergency tracheotomy kit



March 1967' w. w. VIOLET, JR 3,307,551

I EMERGENCY TRACHEOTOMY KIT Filed Aug. 5, 1964 INVENTOR.

WOODROW' W VIOLET JR,

A'I'TURJVEY United States Patent 3,307,551 EMERGENCY TRACHEOTOMY KIT Woodrow W. Violet, Jr., Glendale, Calif., assignor to Theodore D. Mooklar, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Aug. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 386,880 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-305) This invention relates to surgical instruments, particularly to first-aid instruments, and relates more particularly to an emergency first-aid tracheotomy kit.

Human life depends upon regular intake of air into the lungs. If for any reason the trachea is blocked, or the lungs are rendered inoperative for any other reason, there is a two to five minute period before the brain cells begin to die, and if air is not restored to the lungs immediately, then even though life is preserved by later reestablishment of breathing, the victimis forever handicapped because of the experience. This time limit is an approximation.

Accordingly, when any one of the many events which can occur, does occur to block oif the lungs, there is an emergency created of the first order. There is no time to summon medical aid from a distance. Therefore, those trained in first-aid procedures or otherwise aware of the life-saving possibilities of an emergency tracheotomy may incise the trachea and restore breathing until medical care can be secured to produce a permanent rectification of the problem.

Unfortunately, emergencies often occur whenever there is no suitable scalpel, knife or razor blade available by which the trachea may be cut. Furthermore, once cut, an extension needs to be made in order to maintain an open air passage. Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an emergency kit having both a scalpel and an air way device in sterile form available for producing an emergency tracheotomy.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a kit in a convenient pocket form in order that both men and women may carry the kit unobtrusively in pocket or purse.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such kit in the appearance of a fountain pen, including a clip in order to enable the kit to be attached to a pocket and carried with writing instruments.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide such emergency kit in an inexpensive form in order that it may be issued on a broad basis and thus be available in times of need. I p

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an ammonia inhalant ampule within the handle of the scalpel for assistance in fainting associated with the persons other than the victim.

For a full understanding of the invention, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the Emergency Tracheotomy Kit will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the features forming the invention will then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of a two-part instrument embodying the concepts of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an assembled view of the instrument of FIGURE 1, together with a protective sealing cover for maintaining the instrument and airway device in sterile condition;

FIGURE 3 is an assembled modification with parts broken away for illustration; and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic illustration of the use of the airway device to maintain air passage.

In FIGURE 1 of the drawing, a version of the invention is embodied in a form which has the appearance of a fountain pen. This embodiment employs a handle portion which has the appearance of the top of a fountain pen or a mechanical pencil. There are no rigid specifications for the construction, and it may either be hollow as usual in fountain pen construction, or may be made of solid material. If hollow, an insert 12 is secured in the end of the handle and is encompassed by screw threads 14 adjacent the end thereof.

A scalpel blade 16 is secured to extend along the longitudinal axis of the handle 10. The particular form of the scalpel blade illustrated is not critical. Any suitable form capable of the intended purpose will sutfice. The illustrated embodiment provides for securing the blade 16 by means of an opening in the insert 12 into which the blade 16 is fitted and secured by castable resin. There are many suitable means for securing a scalpel blade on the end of handle 10, and these substitutes will readily suggest themselves.

An airway device 18 in tubular form having a through passageway 20 is formed with screw threads 22 at one end thereof to enable the airway 1 8 to be removably secured on the insert 12 as a continuation of the handle 10. Thus, the airway will serve as a protective cover for the scalpel 16.

Additionally, the airway device 18 has an exterior form adapted to the particular end purpose by having the end opposite the thread 22 tapered. Thus, the tapered formation will not only enable the airway device 18- to be adapted to the trachea of the victim, regardless of size or age, but will also enable the ease of insertion. Under the emergency conditions prevailing, the person administering the first aid may be somewhat nervous, and by having the taper to assist insertion, will not be put to the task of having steady hands to insert airway.

The assembly of parts shown in FIGURE 1 will leave an opening at the end of the airway device 18, as well as a crevice at the union between the handle 10 and the airway device 18. In order to seal these two possible contaminant collecting areas, a cover 24 is placed over the assembly. The cover 24 may be a dipped resin material which then hardens in place, or a preformed sleeve.

Somewhat more expensive to manufacture, but having some desirable advantages, is the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3. In this embodiment a handle 26 is provided in the form of the writing or pen portion of a fountain pen, and a disposable cover in the form simulating the cap of a fountain pen. Thus, the handle and cap 28 are substantially that of a conventional fountain pen in external appearance.

Internally, an extension 30 is provided with screw threads 32, and an airway device 34 is threadably engaged on the threads 32. The airway device 34 is constructed substantially in the form and'for the purposes as' described with respect to the airway device 18. It is dimensioned to fit within the housing of the cap 28.

In FIGURE 3 the handle is indicated as having a cavity 36 therein at the end opposite the scalpel, and an ampule 38 of an ammonia type inhalant is enclosed therein. A removable cap 33 is employed to enclose this container.

The invention thus described is available for emergency use, and provides a sanitary trachea airway device without the necessity to seek and produce such airway device. There have been efforts in the past to break a fountain pen and construct such a trachea airway device under emergency conditions. Often, the patient s-ufiiers immeasurably because fountain pen bodies normally break in the wrong direction and if attempted to be employed in a somewhat shattered condition, pieces may lodge in the lungs of the victim and cause additional complications. Furthermore, such elforts often result in completely disintegrated tubes and a lack of a suitable airway. This invention provides all that is needed in an emergency situation and provides it in a form which is neat and convenient to carry. Therefore, nurses, teachers, police ofiicers, and

other persons likely to be at or near emergency conditions, as well as those private individuals interested in lifesaving first aid may be issued or secure a kit at nominal cost and be prepared at all times to conduct like-saving procedures without delay.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be afforded the full scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A first-aid instrument, comprising:

a handle;

a scalpel-form substantially straight blade extending axially from said handle;

a through air duct in straight tubular form dimensioned on the outside diameter and con-figured in a tapered form at one end thereof to insert into an incision cut into the trachea of a human, and at the other end having an inside diameter and configuration removably engaging the end of said handle;

said air duct being greater in length than said blade to fully sheathe said blade therein; whereby said air duct engaged upon the end of said handle over said scalpel serves to protect the scalpel in a cover ing means for cleanliness, said air duct thereby being available as an emergency airway for an incised trachea.

2. A first-aid instrument, comprising:

a handle;

a substantially straight blade extending axially of said handle;

a through air duct in straight tubular form dimensioned on the outside diameter and configured in a tapered form at one end thereof to insert into an incision cut into the trachea of a human, and at the other end having internal interlocking surface configurations, said handle having external interlocking surface configurations, said configurations of the air duct and handle removably engaged to hold their air duct upon the end of said handle;

said air duct being greater in length than said blade to fully sheathe said blade therein; and

a protective cover over the air duct enclosing the entire duct for sanitary purposes;

whereby said scalpel is protected in a covering means for cleanliness, and an emergency airway for an incised trachea is provided by the air duct portion of the covering means.

3. A first-aid instrument, comprising:

a handle;

a scalpel form substantially straight blade extending axially from said handle;

a straight tubular form trachea air duct having a through opening and a tapering external surface form dimensioned in size and configuration at one end to insert into an incision cut into the trachea of a human, and at the other end having an inside surface with screw threads;

said handle having screw threads at the end thereof adjacent said scalpel, said screw threads of the handle and tubular form air ducts removably engaged for holding the air duct over the scalpel as an extension of the handle;

said air duct being greater in length than said blade to fully sheathe said blade therein; and

a disposable protective covering encasing said tubular form air duct;

whereby said scalpel is protected in a covering means for cleanliness, and an emergency airway for an incised trachea is provided by the tubular form air duct.

4. A first-aid instrument, comprising:

a handle simulating the form and configuration of the ink-containing portion of a two-piece fountain pen;

a scalpel form substantially straight blade extending from said handle along the axis thereof;

a straight tubular form air duct having a through passage and dimensioned on the exterior surface as an airway for an incised human trachea, wherein the outside diameter and configuration at one end is formed to insert into the incised trachea of a human, and at the other end having an internally threaded surface, said handle having adjacent the blade thereof a threaded configuration removably engaging the threaded configuration of the tubular formed air duct, said air duct being greater in length than said blade to fully sheathe said blade therein; and

a covering means for the tubular from air duct and scalpel in the form of a cap member simulating the removable cap of a fountain pen, including a pocket clip thereon;

whereby said scalpel and the air duct are protected in a covering cap for cleanliness, and an emergency airway for an incised trachea is contained within the cover along with a convenient scalpel for emergency use.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,746,147 5/1956 Booth 30-151 X 2,864,370 12/1958 Alvos 128-347 X 3,126,629 3/1964 Claisse et al. 30l5l 3,182,663 5/1965 Abelson 128--305 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Priamry Examiner.

G. MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FIRST-AID INSTRUMENT, COMPRISING: A HANDLE; A SCALPEL-FORM SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT BLADE EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM SAID HANDLE; A THROUGH AIR DUCT IN STRAIGHT TUBULAR FORM DIMENSIONED ON THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND CONFIGURED IN A TAPERED FORM AT ONE END THEREOF TO INSERT INTO AN INCISION CUT INTO THE TRACHEA OF A HUMAN, AND AT THE OTHER END HAVING AN INSIDE DIAMETER AND CONFIGURATION REMOVABLY ENGAGING THE END OF SAID HANDLE; SAID AIR DUCT BEING GREATER IN LENGTH THAN SAID BLADE TO FULLY SHEATHE SAID BLADE THEREIN; WHEREBY SAID AIR DUCT ENGAGED UPON THE END OF SAID HANDLE OVER SAID SCALPEL SERVES TO PROTECT THE SCALPEL IN A COVERING MEANS FOR CLEANLINESS, SAID AIR DUCT THEREBY BEING AVAILABLE AS AN EMERGENCY AIRWAY FOR AN INCISED TRACHEA. 